Tailored Functional Oxide Nanomaterials: From Design to Multi-Purpose Applications

Metal-oxide-based materials represent an extremely appealing class of functional platforms, thanks to the multiformity of their structures, stoichiometries, and chemico-physical characteristics. This broad variety, in conjunction with the modulation of their structure and morphology at the nanoscale, empowers with a precious toolkit toward the implementation of nanosystems featuring intelligent properties and specific functions. The latter, ranging from size-dependent optical properties to novel chemical reactivity, have triggered a significant attention for various applications, including, among others, heterogeneous (photo)catalysts for water/air purification and fuel production, solid state gas sensors, batteries, supercapacitors, and magnetic devices. Significant advancements in this regard have been enabled by the fast growth and implementation of innovative fabrication routes and analytical tools, as well as by the progress of computational modeling, whose synergism enables the study of an impressive variety of physico-chemical phenomena relevant from both a fundamental and an applied point of view. In this context, the present book offers a unique combination of fundamentals and selected key applications for metal oxide nanomaterials, ranging from their preparation up to the mastering of their characteristics in an interdisciplinary view. The volume provides basic concepts related to material design through vaporand liquid-phase approaches, addressing various issues currently under way from preparation, to theoretical research, up to a broad scenario of advanced technological utilizations. Throughout the text, the authors illustrate various aspects for the understanding and real-world end uses of the most important class of inorganic materials, elucidating the interplay between fabrication, chemico-physical characterization, and functional behavior in selected fields. The latter comprise the following: – Photo-activated pollutant degradation. – (Photo)electrochemical systems and devices for sustainable energy production and storage. – Current trends regarding ferromagnetic/ferroelectric and spintronic heterostructures, batteries, electrochromics, andminiaturized gas sensors for day-to-day life. Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ by University Of Padova Center Di, Wiley Online Library on [21/02/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License xiv Preface Beside an overview of the key topics, users will also find actual perspectives and emerging research directions, in an attempt to answer to the question “what’s next?” in nano-oxide development for science and technology of the future. The key features of the present book can be summarized as follows: – Provides a fundamental understanding of interrelations between synthesis, chemico-physical properties, and functional behavior of a variety of single and multicomponent metal oxide-based nanomaterials. – Presents an advanced and broad perspective on metal oxide nanomaterials for various technological end uses through the contribution of internationally renowned experts. – Offers a multi-purpose coverage of recent research advancements in synthesis, modeling, and applications in electrochemical devices for energy production/storage, magnetic materials, gas sensors, photo-assisted water/air purification, and fuel production. – Illustrates various case studies promoting the critical thinking of students and researchers toward the development of novel oxide-based functional materials and devices. In fact, the present volume stands as a versatile instructive text for undergraduate/ postgraduate fellows to boost their interest in designing advanced oxide nanomaterials with tailored characteristics for the next-generation functional systems. In addition, the book will also serve as a powerful reference for chemists, physicists, engineers, andmaterials scientists working in universities and research institutions, as well as for professionals involved in the mastering and technology transfer of oxide nanosystems toward cutting-edge applications. We believe that this book will develop an important framework for the beginners and researchers working in the target fields, exploring various aspects from basic background up to material properties and their eventual uses. It will be also a very valuable reference book for trained scientists in both academic and industrial contexts.